F

F tags – Federal licensure tags that apply to nursing home care.

Fall during transfer – A patient falling during the transfer to or from a wheelchair or bed is a common nursing home injury particularly among physically disabled patients. Many episodes involving a fall during a transfer stem from the fact the the staff was failing to assist or supervise the patient.

Fecal impaction – A fecal impaction is a large mass of dry, hard stool that can develop in the rectum due to chronic constipation. This mass may be so hard that it cannot come out of the body. Watery stool from higher in the bowel may move around the mass and leak out, causing soiling or diarrhea. If not diagnosed and treated fecal impaction may result in death.

Federal supplement – Books which gives the government certain control and power to regulate discharge of pollutants into the nation’s waters in an effort to achieve clean waters.

Feeding tube – A small, soft, plastic tube placed through the nose (NG) or mouth (OG) into the stomach. These tubes are used to provide feedings and medications into the stomach until (and when) the person can take food by mouth. See more here.

Fentanyl overdose – Strong narcotic pain reliever typically used to treat chronic pain or intense cancer pain not treatable with lighter drugs; it is stronger than morphine and is not prescribed for common pain symptoms like headaches or back pain; overdose is very serious and can lead to severe health complications and death, overdoses are most likely at the beginning of treatment , at dosage increases, when combined with other narcotics, or when used illegally; signs of overdose include hyperventilation, cold or clammy skin, low blood pressure, contracted pupils, seizures and slowed heartbeat. See more about fentanyl overdoses in nursing homes here.

File – To place a paper in the official custody of the clerk of court/court administrator to enter into the files or records of a case.

Filing see – The fee required for filing various documents.

Financial abuse – The illegal or improper use of the a person’s property, finances, and other assets without that person’s informed consent or where consent is obtained by fraud.

Finding – Formal conclusion by a judge or regulatory agency on issues of fact. Also, a conclusion by a jury regarding a fact.

First degree burn – Injury to the tissues of the body; burns are classified according to the amount of tissue they affect and how deep they are; first degree burn is the least serious type because it injures only the top layers of skin (epidermis).

Flap reconstruction – Alternative to skin expansion as a method of covering a large pressure sore, in order to close the wound and reduce the chances of infection.

Flesh eating bacteria – Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues, easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue; type I describes a polymicrobial infection, whereas type II describes a monomicrobial infection; causes include Group A streptococcus, staphylococcus gureus, vibrio yulnificus, clostridium perfringens, bacteroides fragilis; infections such as there are more likely to occur in people with compromised immune systems.

Food poisoning – Food poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins made by these germs. Most cases of food poisoning are from common bacteria such as Staphylococcus or E. coli. See more about food poisoning here.

Fracture – A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually the result of trauma, a fracture can be caused by an acquired disease of of the bones. For information about fractures in the elderly, see material here.

Fraud – A false representation of a matter of fact which is intended to deceive another.

Frozen joints – Adhesive capsulitis is a painful disorder that results from the chronic inflammation, scarring, thickening and shrinkage or the capsule that surrounds the involved joint, classically occurring in the shoulders or the knees. For additional material on contractures, look here.